Conservation projects create jobs in Oregon, Ecotrust study shows

View full sizeThomas Boyd, The OregonianThis Lane County land was in agriculture production until it was restored to a floodplain after 2003.

In a nation where it seems the line is drawn --jobs vs. environment -- a new study by the conservation group Ecotrust says you can have both.

The report says habitat restoration created 6,483 jobs in Oregon and generated $977.5 million in economic activity from 2001-2010. And helped innumerable fish and waterways.

Builders, landscapers, heavy equipment operators, engineers and wildlife biologists were put to work. Long term, Ecotrust says the goal is for improvements to endure and boost commercial and sports fishing.

Also highlighted is the recent University of Oregon report found that an average of 90 cents of every dollar spent on restoration stays in the state, and 80 cents of every dollar spent stays in the county where a project is located.

In the report, one of the most illuminating looks at the money spent/job growth from habitat restoration comes by way of a state map in the report. It's a county-by-county breakdown of jobs and cash spent on rehab projects.